leeward settlements, he is urged, almost simultaneously, to settle affairs with no less than six vessels, (some of which had just arrived with emigrants, and were anxious for a speedy departure,) to defend the settlement against the threatened attack of a piratical Spaniard, to confer with several kings in the interior, and conduct a tedious negotiation for opening a new trade path into the country, to engage in a long and difficult judicial investigation, to allot to the new comers their several plantations, and to direct all the complicated proceedings of the entire Colony; so that the wonder is rather that his constitution, already enfeebled by a long residence in a tropical climate, and a weight of cares which might have prostrated a more vigorous frame, should have endured so long, than that it should at length have sunk beyond the possibility of recovery. He was attacked by a violent fever on the 5th of February, and continued for many days on the very verge of life. But ever unmindful of himself when public duty called, the daily intervals of reason were employed in giving instructions which might secure the interests and aid the progress of the Colony. Favoured by Heaven with sufficient strength to arrange every thing in preparation for his absence as his last hope, he embarked amid the tears of the Colonists, in the Doris, for the United States, on the 25th of March, and after incredible suffering, arrived at St. Bartholemews on the 9th of May. Here he enjoyed the kindest attentions and the best medical advice, and though at one time reduced so low that the faintest hope of his convalescence seemed expiring, yet a sudden accession of strength enabled him on the 16th of July to take passage for New Haven, at which port he arrived after a long, and to him a very distressing voyage, on the 10th of August. Though extremely reduced, the cheering sight of his native shores, the friendly salutations and sedulous kindness of the citizens, and the efforts of physicians anxious to preserve so invaluable a life, inspired him for a few days with new vigour, and awakened hopes which were, alas! but too soon to perish. Scarcely a week had elapsed before he found himself sinking; and a friend informed the Board, that in order to confer with him by one of its members, no time was to be lost. The Secretary of the Society arrived at New Haven just twenty-four hours before he expired. At this awful crisis of nature's trial, Mr. Ashmun exhibited a mind elevated above the reach of calamity, and awaiting with unruffled composure and cloudless serenity, the great transition. Profoundly humble before the Eternal Majesty, the voice of human approbation was painful to him; while detaching his affections from every earthly object, he gathered power for his last conflict from the Divine promise and grasped in triumph the Christian's hope. Those who entered his chamber felt that it was a sacred place. With a child-like simplicity of manner and expression, and charity the most affecting, they saw blended traits of heroic fortitude and apostolic magnanimity. Affliction could not extinguish the ardour of his soul, and often did his pale features glow with a light which seemed reflected from that brighter world he was so soon to The love of country so beautifully described was but a feeble sentiment compared with that cherished by our friend towards the Colony which had so long been the field of his labours. To this were given (as far as more solemn and personal duties would permit) the thoughts of his last hours, and on this he implored the divine blessing in his last supplication. The final evening of his life found him giving instructions concerning the education of a little African boy, his attendant, who had been rescued by him from pirates, and in conversing with great interest and animation concerning the state of the Colony; and having fulfilled every duty which seemed to demand his attention, at 12 he gently slept in death. Thus terminated the life of one whose name has long been identified with the cause of this Institution. Heaven has taken him, and to its mandate we bow. Let us thank God that he was spared to effect so much, and that the power of his example will be deathless as his fame. Gifted with those great and rare endowments, intellectual and moral, indispensable to success in enterprises of vast and enduring utility; an understanding clear and comprehensive; judgment profound and exact; invincible courage and unyielding perseverance; an industry and activity which made moments productive, and which necessity alone could limit; a disinterestedness ever happy when conferring happiness on others; and a lofty spirit of devotion, kindled and sustained by communion with God, and ruling all his faculties for the Divine honour; he seemed chosen by higher wisdom than ours to found in Africa a Christian Nation. It is not possible for the Managers, on this occasion to present even a brief history of Mr. Ashmun's exertions, nor can the present age estimate the importance of their results. They will be better known when we shall see nothing to regret in the institutions of our country, and when humanity and religion shall have achieved their last triumph over the miseries of Africa. But the Board have a further mournful duty to discharge in recording the death and in expressing their respect to the memory, of Dr. William Thornton, one of the earliest and most faithful friends of Africa, from the origin of the Society an efficient member of the Board of Managers, and who ever with heartfelt attachment contributed his counsels and his efforts to promote the adoption of judicious measures in aid of our cause and their successful execution. The attention of Dr. Thornton was attracted to the subject of African Colonization while a young man, and with philanthropic enthusiasm, he determined to become himself the conductor of the free coloured people of America to the land of their ancestors. A number were prepared to place themselves under his direction, but want of adequate funds prevented the fulfilment of his design. The hope however that the scheme of African Colonization would finally receive the public sanction he continued to cherish, and the establishment of this Society was an event which gratified some of the purest and strongest feelings of his heart. Though the death of individuals who have long taken so honourable a share in the operations of this Society, has deeply impressed the Board with the vanity of all expectations except those excited by confidence in God; yet in the review of the past year the Managers find much to awaken gratitude, enliven hope, and invigorate resolution. It was stated by the Board in their last Report, that three vessels, the brigs Doris and Nautilus and schooner Randolph, had been despatched with emigrants during the antumn.. The Doris with 107 passengers (sixty-two of which were liberated slaves) after a protracted passage of 61 days, arrived at Liberia on the 15th of January. A single death, and that of an aged and infirm female, occurred on the passage. The schooner Randolph, conveying 26 Africans manumitted by a single individual near Cheraw, S. C. completed her voyage of 34 days on the 17th of the same month, with all her passengers in perfect health. The Nautilus, with 164 persons principally from the lower counties of North Carolina, arrived on the 19th of Feb. 54 days from Hampton Roads. To prevent the disappointment of some who had perhaps too inconsiderately made arrangements to emigrate, a larger number than usual, considering the size of the vessel, had been permitted to embark in the Nautilus; and recollecting this fact and the unfortunate length of the passage, that four deaths should have occurred among the children, can occasion no surprise. The emigrants by the Randolph and the Nautilus, suffered little after their arrival from the climate, though the passengers by the Doris were severely afflicted and 24 of their number fell victims to disease. It deserves remembrance, however, that in the opinion of the Colonial Agent the season was one of the most unhealthy ever known; that the passage of the Doris had been nearly twice the usual length; that the mortality was confined to those who had oc-' cupied most northerly situations in this country, and that all the deaths occurred in Monrovia. "Draw a |